Improvement in tank-roofs



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. FISKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TAN K-ROOFS.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,096, dated June 1'6, 1874; application filed April 27, 1874.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G.F1sKE, of San Francisco city and county, State ot' California, have invented an Improved Root' for Buildings; and I do hereby declare the folflowing description and accompanying drawtion in elevation.

Let A represent the top of a building of any kind. The roof-supporting timbers or joist B B B I secure horizontally in the manner of laying floor joists or timber, so that a `per fectly lat roof can be constructed upon them. I then lay a tloorin g of thin boards, c c, transversely across the 'roof-j oists, so as to cover the entire roof, and upon this I place a second thickness of boards, d d, diagonal to the iirst course c c, thus forming a double thickness of boards laid diagonal to each other and Asecurely fast- 'lhe coping E extends upward above the roof to any desired height, but usually about 011e foot. -In the angle formed by the upper course d of boards and the inner Wallofthe coping I secure a triangular wooden strip, f, so that its base iits down upon the upper course, while its sidev slopes or inolines fromV the wall to the course, thus providing a fastening-strip for the ends of the boards, and protecting the joint next to the coping. I then take a strip, G, of sheet metal, (tin or copper,) and tack one of its edges to the upper course d, near the foot of the triangular strips f. This sheetr metal I then iit to the inner wall top and outer edge of the coping, so as to provide a complete metallic covering for the coping. Across one corner ot' the root' I place a metallic dam, z', so as to provide a triangular recess. I then carry a pipe, K, through the wall at the angle in the bottom of this recess.

I also extend a dam, m, entirely across one end of the roof, a short distance from the foot of the triangular strip f, and through the corner of the roof at one end of the channel or gutter thus formed I lead a pipe, o. The roof or upper course d of boards I then cover With 'any desired thickness ofasphaltum, h, or equivalent plastic Water-repellent compound, taking care to cover the edge of the metallic'strip.

G, the dams t' m preventing the asphaltum from entering the corner recess and end channel. The roof being perfectly level, the asphaltum covering will be equally thick at every point, and in case it should become heated by the sun it cannot run oft, but will remain in its place. To protect the asphaltum from the heat of the sun, I cover it with a layer, Z, of sand. The metallic dams t' m are several inches higher than the asphaltum covering, so as to serve -as a curb to prevent the sand from getting' into the corner recess and end channel. A few inches from the dam m, and parallel with it, I secure a strip, p, of wood or other material, which extends entirely across the roof above the layer of sand, and inside ot' this strip I ll in a layer of earth, It, to the height of the strip. L is a pipe, which connects below with one of the Water-pipes which permeate the house. rlhis pipe passes up through the roof, and serves as a means of supplying water to the roof. This earth roof can be converted into a garden by planting trees, shrubs, and iiowers in the top soil. The water will be retainedin the sandy layer by the dams i m, and any surplus will percolate under the strip p and pass into the channel at the end of the root', from Whichit will pass through the pipe o to the outside gutter. rlhe covering of sand, soil, and Water will thoroughly exclude the sun and air from the asphaltum covering, and preserve it from waste by softening and evaporating.

This roof can be constructed cheaper than a pitched roof, as the beams or rafters are placed direetl y and horizontally upon the ceiling-joists. It is 'also more substantial, and is less liable to crack or move, as every part is arranged so as to avoid displacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seul. A

HENRY GUSTAVUS FISKE. [1..

Titnessesz K GEO. H. STRONG, JN0. L. BOONE. 

